August 27, 2009

Argentina government open to farm negotiations

Argentina's government is open to dialogue with farmers but will not back down on the partial veto of an emergency farm aid bill, which sparked a new round of agricultural sector protests, according to Cabinet Chief Anibal Fernandez on Wednesday (Aug 26).

Farmers plan to launch a one-week strike on Friday (Aug 28), freezing grain and beef sales. It is expected that exports will not be affected unless the strike got extended.

Tempers flared when the government vetoed a Congress-approved farming bill that would have exempted drought-hit farmers from paying export taxes.

President Fernandez said the exemption was included by mistake and was impossible to implement.